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A landscape gardener from Bulwell has said that he wouldn't have been able to pursue his modelling dream without the help of his boss.

Nineteen-year-old Kai Taylor has graced the catwalk for Versace and taken part in Milan Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and is on his way to New York next month - but his gratitude to his employer is at the front of his mind.

Kai said: "I think if I had any other boss I would have been sacked by now, but mine is so supportive and has always encouraged me to go for it and he lets me have time off when I need it."

His boss, landscape gardener Jamie Hurt, 26, from Hucknall has played a big part in his journey to become a model.

He said: "He is a lovely young lad and very hard working. He told me he wanted to be a model when he first started and I have always pushed him to follow his dreams.

"He is a very switched on young boy and that can be quite rare these days. He is also confident which helps too.

"He is great at landscape gardening and I am more than happy to leave him to do his own thing because I know he is a very competent young boy and I don't mind letting him have time off to fulfill his dreams."

Kai became a full time landscape gardener after leaving school at Top Valley Academy but always had dreams of being a model.

His family took him to get professional photos taken in Birmingham and before they knew it he was modelling for Asos, Topman and GQ.

His mum Lorna Hayward, 39, a care home cook from Bulwell, was shocked at how quickly his dreams came true.

She said: "He did some modelling for local small businesses around Nottinghamshire and then he did Topman and the Nottingham Trent catwalk and it was after that when it got a bit crazy.

"It escalated from there and he was going down to London a lot then one day he just said 'Oh by the way I'm going to Milan.' It is all so surreal."

Kai Taylor Modelling for Versace in Milan

Mrs Hayward knew from an early age that Kai had an interest in fashion.

She said: "He has always been very particular with his clothes he would always wear something a bit different he has even bought clothes beforehand changed the colour completely or changed details on the clothing to make it his own.

"His style has always been quite quirky and he has always liked clothes. From about the age of 13 he had his own style."

Kai's younger sister, 12-year-old Lily Hayward helps to take photographs of him for Instagram. His other siblings Demi and Sam are also happy for him and push him to do the best he can.

His mum was surprised by his loyalty to his boss, which became evident after the trip to Milan.

She said: "He flew back on the Monday and was tired as he flew through the night. But then the following day he went to work because he didn't want to let anybody down and he felt like he had taken too much time off.